Bill Holman was a world famous family
cartoonist, creator of the classic cartoon comics, Smokey Stover, Spooky
the Cat, not to mention Nuts and Jolts enjoyed by millions of adults and
children.

As my Uncle Bill used
to say, I admire the courageous work the firemen do and hoped to
become one of them.
William (Bill) Holman first saw the light of day when he was born on March
22, 1903 in Crawfordsville, Indiana. His family then moved to Nappanee,
Indiana where they lived until he was 15, eventually settling in Chicago.
Like most boys, he wanted to be a fireman and drive a big red hook and
ladder fire wagon. He quickly changed his mind when he discovered that
the big galloping fire horses didnt harness themselves. While working
part-time at the local five and 10 cent store he developed an interest
in drawing.

Bill graduated from high
school at 16, and then attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. After
school he was an office boy at the Tribune, before long he was working
as a cartoonist in the art department.
In 1924, when he was only 21 years old, my uncle moved to New York to
spend seven great years as staff artist for the Herald Tribune. For the
next seven years Bill freelanced his comic art. His cartoons appeared
in many of the popular magazines of the time.

Bills most popular creation was a fireman called Smokey Stover and
his zany boss Chief Cash U Nutt. They drove to fires in their two-wheel
fire truck known as the Foo Mobile. Whats Foo? My uncle found
this word engraved on the bottom of a jade statue in San Franciscos
China town. The word Foo means Good-Luck. Another phrase that was popular
and used by uncle Bill was Notary Sojac which in Gaelic means Merry
Christmas and 1506 Nix Nix, which was the hotel room number of
a fellow daily news cartoonist Al Posen.

"Sorry chief - but I didn't have time
to dress!"

This comic creation led to a long
term relation on March 10, 1935 with the New York News-Chicago Tribune
syndicate. Smokeys home life revolved around his wife Cookie, fashioned
after his attractive red haired wife Dolores and imaginary son Earl. Their
antics were performed in more than 150 of the countries leading newspapers.

Let us not forget Uncle Bills other comic
art creation, Spooky the Cat and his perpetually bandaged tail. This comic
strip created great interest among pet lovers. Last, but not least, was
his single panel pun, (joke) Nuts and Jolts.
This wacky humorous characters name came from Bill watching an old
smoking stove, hence Smokey Stover was born. As a result of the popularity
of Smokey Stover, hundreds of thousands of 10 cent Big Little Booksof
their adventures were sold, in addition to comic books and television
cartoons. Many other fun items emerged: watches, toys and various novelties.

Bill was a great patriot. He made innumerable
trips abroad for the U.S.O. to entertain troops in Europe, South Pacific,
Japan and Korea and in the veterans hospitals. He was also a big
promoter of U.S. Savings Bonds. He loved children and was involved in
numerous childrens charities.
Bill always worked hard at his cartooning artistry. Putting in 12 hour
days in his New York Studio, surrounded by old newspapers and souvenirs
he would say, My files are in piles. Ironically, his studio
was located next to a firehouse.

My uncle was one of the co-founders
of the National Cartoonists Society and went on to become president in
1961 and 1962. He continued his close association with the society even
after his retirement in 1973, until his passing in 1987. He is greatly
missed.

In honor of my Uncle Bills talent and wit I will continue to share
his works and humor with a new generation. When I was seven he draw
this cartoon as a birthday gift for me. I remember so many funny sayings
and jokes he constantly shared with me and later on with my wife and
children as his wife, our Aunt Dolores, who we now care for, looked
on with love and admiration. I know my uncle now watches and smiles
from above, and I remember him saying,Hop in Everyone and Ill
Drive You All Around the Block.